How much do retail merchandisers make?

The average merchandiser makes $13.95 an hour or $27,920 a year. There is a modest range in potential earnings for a merchandiser, starting as low as $12.31 an hour or $24,000 a year to as high as $16.85 an hour or $34,999 a year.

What are the responsibilities of a merchandiser?

The responsibilities of merchandisers are to ensure that the right amount of goods are available in store and are being sold at the right price. Other duties include planning and developing merchandising strategies, analyzing sales figures, customers reactions, and market trends to anticipate product needs, and collaborating with buyers, suppliers, distributors, and analysts to negotiate prices, quantities, and timescales.

How To Become A Retail Merchandiser: What It Is and Career Path

What is a retail merchandiser and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Retail merchandisers are responsible for planning and implementing strategies to ensure that products sell well in a retail environment. They analyze sales trends, conduct market research, and work with suppliers to determine the best products to stock. Retail merchandisers also develop pricing and promotional strategies, design store displays, and manage inventory levels. They work closely with sales teams and other departments to ensure that all aspects of the retail business are aligned with the company's goals.

ScoreRetail MerchandiserUS Average

Salary

2.2

Avg. Salary $28,678

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

7.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.54%

Black or African American 11.29%

Hispanic or Latino 17.43%

Unknown 5.60%

White 57.42%

Gender

female 65.89%

male 34.11%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a retail merchandiser?

Pros

Flexibility in scheduling
Exposure to various products and brands
Opportunities for creativity and innovation
Opportunity for travel and working in different locations
Possibility of discounts on products

Cons

Physically demanding work, including standing for long periods of time and lifting heavy objects
Inconsistent work schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Pressure to meet sales goals and quotas
Lack of control over inventory and product availability
Limited opportunities for breaks or downtime during shifts

Key steps to become a retail merchandiser

Explore retail merchandiser education requirements

Most common retail merchandiser degrees

Bachelor's

35.0 %

High School Diploma

25.2 %

Associate

25.1 %

Start to develop specific retail merchandiser skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	30.42%
Store Management	15.61%
POS	8.28%
Excellent Organizational	7.11%
Work Ethic	6.46%

Complete relevant retail merchandiser training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New retail merchandisers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a retail merchandiser based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real retail merchandiser resumes.

Gain additional retail merchandiser certifications

Retail merchandiser certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific retail merchandiser certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for retail merchandisers include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

More About Certifications

Research retail merchandiser duties and responsibilities

Manage cleanliness and presentation of stock room and production floor.
Manage entire pet food recycling facility converting 9,000 tons per year from pet food to swine and poultry feed.
Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.

Prepare your retail merchandiser resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your retail merchandiser resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a retail merchandiser resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable retail merchandiser resume templates

Build a professional retail merchandiser resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your retail merchandiser resume.